Happy Spring! I hope everyone is doing well. Here is what we are up to in fourth grade:

• In science, the class has been learning about electricity. We have been focusing on current electricity, and how it works. Students built circuits in science lab to help them better understand how electricity flows in a closed circuit. We will continue to learn about electricity for the next few weeks.
• In language arts, we are reviewing all topics covered this year. The ELA test will be April 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.  We have been reading the book "Hoot," in class together. We have been focusing on the author's use of imagery, and on characterization. The class also created wanted posters for one one the characters in the book. We have spent a little time each day practicing for the ELA test.
• In math, we just finished up our unit on fractions. We spent time this week multiplying a whole number and a fraction. We have also spent a lot of time converting improper fractions to mixed numbers, and then simplifying. We just started to learn how to use the formula for area to find missing sides of rectangles. The class has had math review every morning.
• Please remember to send in any ELA breakfast items that you may have signed up for.

Have a great weekend!

February 27

What a busy month February has been! Hopefully March will bring some warmer weather. This is what we have been up to in fourth grade:

• Social Studies- We finished up the American Revolution unit. I was very pleased with the student's performance on their assessments. The class also completed their mythology projects, which were displayed in the main hall. We received several compliments on the quality of work of the tri-fold displays from many teachers. We will be starting up an electricity unit in science next week.
• Language Arts- We continue to work on figurative language. This week, the class learned about personification, and reviewed similes and metaphors. We have also been talking about the structure and features of different forms of writing (prose, poems, and plays). The class has been practicing plays in small groups to present to their peers. We will begin a literature circle next week for the book Hoot. The class has been practicing writing essays. We have been reviewing main idea, author's purpose, and theme.
• Math- We finished up our first unit on fractions. We have started a new unit which focuses on adding fractions with like denominators, and simplifying. The class has been working on multi-step word problems every morning. We also cycled through math stations twice this week.
• Other News- Please send in a safe snack for the month of March.

Thank you for your continued support! Have a great weekend!

January 24

I hope that everyone is keeping warm in this frigid weather! Here's what we have been working on the past two weeks:

• In social studies, the class has been learning about the American Revolution. Last week, we mostly learned about the causes and effects that led to the revolution. This week, students learned about battles, the Continental Army, George Washington, and Patriots and Loyalists. Next week, we will learn about the end of the war, and students will create slogans.
• In ELA, students are finally finishing up their final copy of their favorite holiday essay. We have been spending a lot of time learning about figurative language. So far, students have learned about metaphors, similes, alliteration, and hyperbole. We have also been reading poetry, learning about it's structure, and finding examples of figurative language. The class continues to learn about foreshadowing. We also just finished our read aloud book, Weasel. 
• We started our mythology projects. Students have chosen a myth, and are researching the myth to summarize it, identify the theme, find a modern day link, and to find cool facts about the characters in the myth. Please send in a tri-fold board by Monday, so that we can assemble the projects at school. 
• In math, we have been spending a lot of time with long division. We cycled through stations a couple time this week. Next week, there will be an assessment on long division, and we will be starting fractions. I offer math help on Wednesdays after school, so if your child is in need of support, please have them stay after on this day.

Have a great weekend!

January 10th

Happy New Year!  We have spent the first week of 2014 hard at work!
     In Language arts, the class is continuing to read their fantasy books. Next week we plan to have the books finished by Friday. We will be moving on to a mythology unit where students will be researching a Greek or Roman myth to present. The class learned about foreshadowing this week with the start of our new read aloud book, Weasel. We started a mini-unit on figurative language. This week, students learned about metaphors. Children are finishing up their holiday celebration essays next week.
    We started a new unit in social studies on colonial New York. The class spent some time learning about the life of children in the colonial days. We also learned about some colonial trades. Next week, we will be learning about the French and Indian War, and the causes of the American Revolution.
    In math, we wrapped up unit 8 with a test on Monday, and are mid-way through unit 9. The class is learning about division with remainders, compatible numbers, and rounding to estimate. We cycled through math stations twice this week. Next week, we start long division!
Have a great weekend!

December 2-6

This week in fourth grade, Miss Palmer taught many lessons for her "solo week" student teaching. She will be with us one more week. Here's what we worked on:

• We started our fantasy unit up. All students are reading a different  fantasy book, and have learned about the fantasy genre both in class and in the library. Students wrote a letter to me in their literature circle packets, giving a summary, making connections, and telling the author's purpose. We will meet in groups Monday to discuss our reading, and to read fantasy letters.
• The class learned more about how to find character traits through inferring. They found character traits for the main character from our read aloud book. The class also practiced using context clues to find the meaning of new words.
• The class started a new writing piece. We are writing about a favorite holiday celebration. Again, we are focusing on paragraphing, topic and closing sentences, and providing details. Students just started drafting their body paragraphs.
• In science, we continue to learn about the solar system. This week, the class researched either inner or outer planets. They are in the process of creating flip books about the planets they researched. Next week, students will choose one planet to research further. The week before the holiday break, there will be a solar system assessment.
• In math, the class learned about compatible numbers, and how to find hidden information in word problems. Next week, we will be multiplying double digit numbers using arrays.
• Mrs. Mondandaro came in on Wednesday for a Hanukkah presentation, which the class really enjoyed! 
• Next Wednesday will be our trip to Sage to see "The Secret Garden." Please send your child with a peanut free lunch. We will be leaving around 8:50, and will return to school around 8:30.

Have a great weekend!

We have been very busy the past 2 weeks! Thank you to all parents for meeting with me at conference time; it has been great talking with you all about your child's progress!

• In language arts, we have finished the book There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom, and we are currently working on a culminating activity (see projects tab). I just introduced the fantasy genre to the class, and we will begin a new literature circle focusing on this genre. All students will choose their own "just right" fantasy book to read. We have continued working with supporting responses with text based evidence. Also, we have spent time focusing on taking margin notes as a reading comprehension strategy. In writing, we are revising and editing our thankful essays, and will continue working on these essays through next week.
• In math, the class just took their unit 6 assessment on using the expanded algorithm to multiply, and I am happy to report that everyone did great! After Thanksgiving break, we will begin unit 7, which continues multiplication strategies for multi-digit by multi-digit numbers. Currently, the class is working on planning a Thanksgiving dinner on a $100 budget! They made a guest list, a menu, and are working on a shopping list. Students must use math in the real word situation of shopping for groceries!
• We are learning about the solar system. We spent time learning about moon phases, and how the moon effects the Earth. After break, students will be independently researching the inner and outer planets, and will be creating a flip book.
• Please continue to practice multiplication facts through the 12's with your child.
• Please send in a snack for the month of November if you have not already. Thank you!

Have a great weekend!

We continue to learn and grow in fourth grade! We have had 2 very busy weeks. Here's what we have been up to:

• We had a great Halloween party last Thursday! Students wore their costumes and cycled through 4 Halloween stations. We did a few fun games and crafts, and snacked on some Halloween treats. Thank you to my parent volunteers for running the stations!
• In Social Studies, the class learned about the English taking control of the Dutch colony New Netherlands. The class spent some time learning about our first governor, Peter Stuyvesant, and his eventual surrender to the English.
• We have started a unit on our solar system. This week, the class learned about what causes day and night, and what causes the seasons. We had the opportunity to visit star lab with Miss Abelseth to learn about the constellations. Dr. Reardon made a guest appearance in star lab to teach the class about the myths behind the constellations. Next week, we will continue to learn about the solar system and the English colony.
• In word work, the class learned new prefixes. Next week will be a review of this weeks prefixes, and last weeks words/spelling pattern. There will be an assessment on Friday 11/15.
• We started a new writing unit focused again on paragraphing. Students are writing about things they are thankful for. We encouraged the students to choose at least 2 non-material items they were thankful for, and 1 material item. The class started with some pre-writing in the form of a graphic organizer and a list, and they are now drafting their body paragraphs.
• In math we just started a unit on different methods to multiply. So far, the class has learned the standard algorithm, expanded algorithm (partial products), and  breaking apart. We have been focusing on multiplying 2 and 3 digit numbers by one digit. Most students are not fluent in their multiplication facts through 12. Please practice every night with your child. You can make flash cards, or have them practice on IXL.
• The class learned about first and third person point of view this week. We also continued to work on author's purpose. The students completed a compare and contrast activity for the books Holes and There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom.
• I started a new read aloud for the book Out of My Mind. Please ask your child about the book!